Earlier this week we saw the release of the highly anticipated Instagram client for Windows Phone called 6tag. Developed by Rudy Huyn in just a few weeks’ time, the app has skyrocketed to the top of the Windows Phone Store. While the app is not official or endorsed by Instagram, the company signed off on the name as not conflicting with their brand, in addition to looking the other way on the usage of their API.

Now, version 1.0.1.0 has landed in the Store and while it doesn’t bring any new features per se, it does address some security concerns that were raised in an alarmist article. Plus, we can share with you a new trick that will allow you to open 6tag from Internet Explorer 10.

So what are those changes?

6tag version 1.0.1.0

Encoding using HTTPS

Videos removed from servers after publication

General bug fixes

Privacy Policy

Now some of those aren’t in the app itself but are rather how data is handled. For example, previously uploaded videos to Instagram were first transcoded on Huyn’s servers, then processed back for posting to Instagram. At the time, those video (unmarked with no ID), were held on the server for 48 hours before being automatically deleted. Now, those videos are deleted as soon as you publish (and 48 hours if you don’t).

The HTTPS refers to how cookies are used. On Instagram, their API calls for certain functions to use cookies, or little bits of device ID information, to process certain requests. Those cookies are sent via HTTP to Instagram and that’s how 6tag handled them as well. Now, in version 1.0.1.0 they are encrypted using HTTPS. It’s a minor detail that basically means 6tag is now more secure for information transmission (an oauth token was sent so there was some risk there).

Exclusive - Open 6tag from Instagram’s website

Windows Phone Central is proud to exclusively announce a new feature that Huyn has developed to make 6tag even better. By following this trick when you are browsing in Internet Explorer 10 (on Windows Phone), you will be able to open Instagram links with 6tag.

Not sure if it's this app or maybe Baconography, but those are the only 2 new apps I've tried since updating to GDR2 + Amber and my battery life has been off the charts bad. It'll be fine for a while and then suddenly drop like 40% in an hour after using one of those apps for a couple mins. Slick app though, started using it over Instance because you can view/post video as well.

Yes, same problem, cant access it anymore, Ruddy Huyn help, just created an account using 6tag, worked for 15 minutes, then couldn't connect at all, told me to retry but that didn't solve the problem. :'(

Is it only me that cannot post comments in 6tag? Support don't answer, Rudy private email do not answer...
My god I'm so sick of this...had this problem with Instance for months and hoped 6tag would fix this, but nooo...its like I'm not ment to be on Instagram at all...useless...

That is false, Rudy made a blogpost to explain his beta users about the tagging issue and never mentioned instance or any other instagram app in his post.
Whereas, the Daniel Gary and Rafael Rivera twosome ran a disgusting smear campaign against 6tag across the blog and twitter.
Absolutely Pathetic beahviour from Rafael Rivera!!

Again a lie, he never mentioned instance and you go even to the extent of accusing him of deleting stuff, i am quite sure now you are related to those hacks in some way otherwise nobody will support them in this situation.

Man, STOP.
Actually, even him, on this comments on this post admitted talking about Instance, and other apps, Read it :"I wrote an article about tag issue to explain to my beta users why it doesn't work for them, I spoke also about other instagram apps."

STOP the lies, I have read his blogpost when it was made, he said in the blog that there is a tagging issue with all the instagram apps including his 6tag app, this was meant to explain to his beta users and he never mentioned "instance" even once!!

AHey guys. I had a lot of problems posting comments on Instance, but this seemed yesterday to be solved with 6tag.
But today I have the same problem, cannot post comments or tags or upload pictures anymore.
Anyone else with the same problem, and has anyone got a solution?
Thanks

not sure if a retaliation, but i think the instance creator didn't like rudy twittering about the tag issue a few weeks back. Mentioned should of done in PM, but that was after like a number of back and forth tweets. Since this is another guy, not sure if he was pissed that happened as well?

I saw a bunch of retweets yesterday by instance creator retweeting people saying great things about his app and rightfully so, since it is a good app, but it was almost kind of sad though.
Even benthepcguy had the jump in at one point to stop rd 2 of twitter wars.

I wrote an article about tag issue to explain to my beta users why it doesn't work for them, I spoke also about other instagram apps, not instance especially. You know, I'm not sure that Valve and EA aren't friends but they are good

The number is in 0 and everytime I have notifications let's say 5 and I check them (without opening the pic) it eats up up to 6Mb.
In the same conditions I was seeing pictures for 15 min and it took 50Mb :S

Nope I even tested with data sense every time I open the app to sneak peak my notifications it eats up 2/3Mb and another process into data sense called Multimedia Transfer eats 1/3Mbs more. That second process appeared after I installed this app and only grows up when I open it.

Yeah, I emailed Rafael because I'm disappointed that he didn't reach out to Rudy to voice his concerns privately before putting up a blog post trashing Rudy's reputation. We all know Rudy to be a developer on top of his game, and I have no doubt that he would have responded with an update just as quickly if Raf had contacted him quietly rather than publicly.

Just wow, Rafael. Couldn’t you just contact Rudy to let him know your concerns? I mean, we all know that he is a WP developer who is on top of his game, and I’m sure he would have responded to your concerns with an update just as fast as he did by your going public, but here we are less than a day after your blog post, and an update is out addressing all of your concerns. But instead of dealing with it quietly, now there’s a blog post out there trashing his reputation that will be found by search engines, and people will find months and years from now.

I’ve respected a lot of what you have done for Windows Phone, but not this time.